A/N Thank you for the reviews and PMs. You have no idea how much they mean to me. My dad – a most lovely man - has been very unwell and passed away last week. The writing of this story and your encouragement helped on those nights when sleep was in short supply and in the daytime as a diversion from the worry and grief. LTIH works its magic in so many ways.

Chapter 15

They met once more during that autumn half-term break from Sulgrave, wrapped up warmly for a saunter around an outdoor garden centre in an isolated part of Yorkshire that Kate had not yet visited. There was an ease and informality about their time together that was rather different from any previous encounter. Although it remained a friendship rather than relationship, there was an acceptance and anticipation that made both women feel secure. An e-mail that Kate wrote to her mum summarised her feelings.

'Hi Mum

It was good to speak to you at the weekend and hear in your voice that you're on the mend. You always seem so busy and I worry that you don't look after yourself properly. I know, since when am I the parent?! I thought I'd give you an update on how things are here. I've finished decorating the spare bedroom – your room, I guess I ought to call it! Just the new curtains to hang and then furniture to buy. I'll do both before I'm back to school next week and then take some photos to send to you. I've been out to a lovely garden centre with Caroline today. I'll take you there on your next visit. Quite a lot has happened. I'll dare to say we're hopeful that we're heading in the right direction. I understand your misgivings and mixing business and pleasure isn't ideal but I'm sure we'll work it out. She's agreed to at least try to track down the woman that I told you about. I'm being careful – before you panic – as I've no intention of rushing things and risk losing what I think we can have together. As you suspected I've completely lost my heart to this magnificent woman, but I'm still using my head! I know I've only known her a very short time but I've such a good feeling about it all. Caroline has told me that she would have thrown caution to the wind and just jumped straight into a relationship with me which is strange as that doesn't seem to be her normal nature at all. Over cautious, if anything. She has what dad used to call a belt and braces approach to life. She seems so vulnerable, which is another reason why I need to be careful. A relationship between us now would be on the rebound from the only two she's ever had, and not yet dealt with. What I do know is that you'll like each other. If circumstances were different I'd ask you if I could bring her with me when I visit at Christmas but I know she can't get away and, even if she could, let's just say living under the same roof would be too much for my resolve. I know, too much information!

Yesterday the care home staff told me how much dad enjoys speaking to you on the phone. I'm so pleased you do that, not many ex-wives would. He still uses a diary to write everything down although I can see such a change in his handwriting I wonder how much longer he'll be able to do so. If I ask what's been happening, he always says 'nothing' but if I look in the diary I can see that he's been busy. He's really enjoying the music therapy classes, as we thought he would. He writes down the date and time of the next session, underlines it and writes 'DON'T FORGET' at the top of the page. His guitar skills are unchanged which is amazing and comforting. Small mercies, eh mum?

I'll ring you as usual.

Kate xx

ooOoo

'Kate, have you got a minute?' the headteacher asked as she caught her going into the first lesson of the afternoon.

'Class, find your seats and get ready for the test on the verbs you were asked to learn for homework. No, Sam, I am not in trouble with Dr Elliot, but you will be if you refer to me as Kate again!' She organised her year ten top set before closing the classroom door and joining Caroline in the corridor. She touched her friend's elbow very briefly before putting her hands in her trouser pockets. 'You ok?'

'Can you come to my office when school finishes? I want to show you something.'

It wasn't lost on Kate that Caroline had not answered her question.

'Of course. I'm on detention duty today, though. Two miscreants to strike the fear of God into! I won't be done until about a quarter to four.'

'That's fine. Gives me time to clear my desk. William and Lawrence will just have to wait in the library or catch the bus home.'

'OK. See you later.'

The Headteacher watched through the classroom door as Kate got into her stride with the students. She was a popular teacher who frequently used humour to cajole and Caroline knew that the students in detention later that afternoon were just as likely to rock with laughter as quake in their shoes. She also had no doubt that Kate would still manage to get the message home about whatever behaviour had led to their punishment.

'And you can detain me, any day you like.' She thought to herself with a smile as taupe Stilettos sounded out her stride on the return journey to her office.

ooOoo

The two boys decided to catch the bus home rather than wait for their mum. Lawrence was keen to raid the fridge and do his homework as quickly as possible before commandeering the TV remote while William felt it his duty to go home with his younger brother to keep an eye on him.

Kate stopped off in the staff room to collect her belongings and make a pot of tea to take with her to the office. Beverley had been absent from school for a few days after the removal of a wisdom tooth and Kate knew that Caroline was not likely to have bothered to make herself an afternoon drink.

'I made us a cuppa.' She announced as she struggled to close the door while shouldering her bags and balancing the tray on her hip.

'No shit, Sherlock!'

'Caroline Elliot! How very dare you!'

'That's me when my guard is down. Congratulations, you've broken through the barriers!'

Kate's intention was to put the tray on the desk and lean in to hug Caroline, but she slipped as she did so and just managed to prevent the tea sliding onto the floor. In the process she totally lost her footing and landed in an inelegant heap on Caroline's lap. Watching the event as if in slow motion Caroline instinctively put out her arms to help and her hands grabbed Kate's ribcage and left thigh. The initial shock stopped as raucous laughter started but that also came to an end as their eyes locked. Caroline kept her hands where they were, as a welcome flutter announced her arousal. Kate's body was similarly awakened, and she found her eyes travel to the full, pink lips so very near her own.

'I want to kiss you.' An obvious statement of fact, quietly spoken.

'I want you to.'

Each woman's eyes now focussed unwaveringly on the lips of the other, just inches apart.

'It wouldn't be chaste like the first time I kissed you.'

'I wouldn't want it to be.' Caroline instinctively licked her bottom lip.

'I wouldn't want it to stop at a kiss.'

'Where would you want it to stop, Kate?'

'I think you know.'

'A woman likes to be told these things.'

'I could tell you, but I think I need to move first or I'll be showing rather than telling.'

With all the exchanges there was no hint of humour, both women making deliberate attempts to provoke action despite their pact. Neither made any effort to move, closer or further apart.

'Anyone ever told you, you're a spoilsport?'

'No, but you have now. I guess there's always a first time.'

'Is that a promise?'

'Yes, it's a promise.'

'So, will you kiss me now?'

'I think we've already had this conversation.' Kate pretended to chastise but the reality was that she was fast losing her resolve.

'But I didn't like the answer. You should know that I'm very determined.'

'Then why don't YOU kiss me?'

Caroline was still considering her options when the office phone rang. The spell was broken. As Caroline answered it, flustered yet radiant, Kate took the opportunity to put the width of the desk between them. The caller droned on, and she watched, almost spellbound, then walked to the window, trying to find something to distract her from an almost overwhelming desire to disconnect the phone and finish what had been started between them. Meanwhile Caroline was doing her best to concentrate on the call.

'Sorry, Kate. There's a new accounting system that Gavin wants to trial, and he phoned to leave a message about the visit from the company's rep. Of course, getting me and not Beverley or the answerphone, he couldn't help but tell me about all and sundry. Now, where were we?' She explained as the call ended.

'Where we were was close to somewhere we agreed not to be. Well, not yet, anyway.'

Kate sat down in the chair on the opposite side of the desk and crossed her legs. The throbbing had yet to subside and the action helped to quell the longing. She determined to stay strong but knew she would have to deal with the aftermath when she arrived home.

'Now, shall we drink our tea while you show me what you asked me here to see? Or was that a ruse to get me all hot under the collar?'

'No, it wasn't a ruse, Kate.' Caroline's demeanour changed from flirty to thoughtful. 'Here, move your chair closer to mine so I can show you something.' She pressed the start button on her iPad.

Ten minutes previously Kate was sure to have responded with a witticism or tease but the look on Caroline's face indicated that the banter was over, at least for a while.

Caroline gave a running commentary as she opened an app and scrolled through assorted options.

'It's been four weeks since you suggested I try to find Meg and I thought it would be easy. You can find anyone on Facebook, or so I thought. Anyway, as I told you the other day, there are several called Meg or Margaret Thomas but not the right one. Why couldn't her name be Wilhelmina Fortesque-Smythe? Most nights this week I've tried to find some mutual friends and received PMs from two. Nobody seems to have any up-to-date information on Meg.'

'Not everyone is on Facebook, Caroline. It's a good place to start but even if she's got a Facebook account she may have set it up so that it's private.' Kate was aware she had interrupted Caroline's flow. 'Sorry, you know that.'

'It's fine, Kate. Anyway, I decided to try Friends Reunited too, as you know. This arrived late last night.' She slid the tablet across the desk so that it was in front of Kate, who read the message out, her heart thumping loudly in anticipation – and fear.

'Caroline! How wonderful to get your message! Of course I remember you but where have 23 years gone? Who could forget the shy, but brilliant Caroline Dawson? You will see that I married Steve Bilson – you must remember him as you introduced us. I think you only did that to get rid of him! But thank you, we now have two strapping sons and we've a wonderful life in New Zealand! Steve pretended not to remember you when I told him you'd been in contact, but I know he was lying! He fancied the pants off you, but you weren't interested. So, by your current surname I assume that you married John after all? I'm sorry that we lost contact after we graduated. Right, down to business. You asked if I had any contact with Meg. Neither of you ever said what caused you to fall out but we were all surprised that you did. We never spoke of it – you didn't in those days – but (please don't shout at me), I thought you were so right for each other. I feel it would be wrong of me to give you Meg's address and contact details without her knowledge – she doesn't do social media, so you won't find her that way – but I have sent your e-mail address to her as you said that I could if I was able to help. Please stay in touch. With very best wishes, Irene.'

Kate pushed her chair back so that she could see Caroline more easily.

'That seems like progress but I can't work out how you feel about the news.'

Caroline sipped at the now cold tea, using the action to give her time to consider. Kate picked up her drink but made no attempt to taste it and returned the mug to the tray. The wish to touch was almost unbearable and she would have preferred to put some distance between them but stayed where she was to avoid distraction.

'That makes two of us, Kate. I'd thought it would be a case of her wanting to make contact, which I thought would be a positive, or not. Now I've developed a fear that I will hear but that it will be anything but positive and I'm scared that will add to the guilt that I feel. Perhaps she's been saving up anger for over two decades and I'll get the full force of it.'

She threw her glasses onto the desk and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

'I can understand your anxiety but is that really going to happen if she was the type of person that you thought? If you were wrong about her character, and she's someone who has harboured resentment and anger against you for so long, then your decision to end it with her may have been for the best even if not for the best reason. But, I doubt that you have got her so wrong. My guess is that this will pan out in one of two ways. Either you won't hear for any number of reasons, or you'll hear and she will have moved on and be pleased that you have tried to find her. I think my money is on that option. In any case, you'll have done your best to right what you see as a wrong and then you can move forward.'

'With you, Kate.' Caroline whispered tentatively.

'I'm not sure whether you meant that to be a statement or question but, yes, I hope with me.'

'Please will you kiss me, Kate?' She swung her chair so that she faced Kate.

'You are persistent, aren't you?'

Kate didn't wait for an answer. She cupped her left hand against Caroline's face and inched forward hesitantly, appreciating the anticipation of what was to come. This was not such a brief contact as before, and in no way chaste as Caroline's lips parted at Kate's approach and the tips of their tongues met for the first time.